Paper picker



Jan. 9, 1945. M. G. DONALDSON PAPER PICKER Filed July 24, 1944 INVENTOR.

Patented Jan. 9,1945

,UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PAPER momma Malcolm Gilbert Donaldson, Okeechobee, Fla. V Application July'24, 1944, Serial No. 546,283

3 Claims. (01. 294-41) i The present invention relatesto pickers for.

use in picking up papers, rags, and other trash from school grounds, parks, lawns, picnic grounds and other places.

The general object is to provide a picker of the character stated, with'new and important improvements over devices thus far patented for similar, purposes,-in which a spike may be used for a pick, and when saidspike is broken it may be replaced by another with as little inconvenience as possible.

Another object is to provide a picker of the character stated which is sufliciently strong, yet light, handy, neat and-attractive, simple in construction, with no parts to get out of or er other than, perhaps,-the spike; and even this to last indefinitely with reasonable care, a picker that is comparatively inexpensive to manufacture, easy to repair, and upkeep. i

With the foregoing and other objects in view; the invention will be more fully described hereinafter, and-will be more particularly pointed in the claims appended hereto.

In the like or corresponding parts throughout the several views,' w v Figure 1 is a side elevationof the picker constructed according to the invention'wtth a portion of the handle broken away.

economical in operation and rawing, wherein like symbols refer to,

cylindrical for receiving the lower end of handle 5. Three or more arms could serve this purpose in lieu of the compartment or socket i3. i1 desired.)

The compartment or socket 13 as disclosed in the drawing, Figures 2 and 4, has a flange I l at I the top, through which three small holes 6 apeasier to fix the spike holder onto the end of the handle by affording something to strike against,

if desired while driv'mg the spike holder onto the out Figure 2 is a similar view taken on an enlarged scale with parts broken away and parts shown in section. Figure 3 is a side elevation oi the spike taken on an enlarged scale.

Figure 3a is a plan view of such spike.

Figure. 4 is a longitudinal section of the socket member orspike-holder scale.

Figure 4a is a top plan view of such socket.

member. l I

Referring more particularliito the drawing my invention includes a spike holder as shown in Figure 4. a handle 5, preferably madeof wood. as shown in Figures 1 and 2, its lower end fitting snugly into the upstanding compartment or arms 13 of the spike holder, and being further if desired, by small screws 6 each passing through one ofa number of small openings in the flange ll of the spike holder; and a spike, Figure 3, an

upper portion of which .fits snugly in the opening taken on an enlarged 8 of the base,8 of thespike holder and is held firmly in place by the set screw 1.

The spike holder comprises the base 8 an upstanding socket or compartment l 3, preferably handle. This could be done by placing the pointed end of apunch or screw driver against the flange, and striking the other end of said punch or screw driver lightly with a hammer. The purpose of the holes 8- is to receive small screws which may be used-if desired to still further seand this measure marked on the handle aftermeasuring-upward on said handle from its lower end; or two other holes l6 could be made opposite each other at the lower limit of the compartment through which it could be seen-when the lower'end or the handle reached said limit. ..The base 8 of the spike holder is provided with I a central opening 9 for receiving and releasing an upper portion of the spike, Figure 3, and in which said spike fits snugly, said central opening permitting unobstructed contact of spike with end of handlein compartment I 3. Base 8 provides also a lateral opening perpendicular to the central opening 9, located at a convenient point between the two ends of the central opening 9, and threaded for receiving and releasing the set screw I which may be provided with any form oi. head desired. A comparatively large circular milled head as shown in the drawing, however, or some other form that could be easily operated with thumb and finger would probably be preferred as the spike could then be placed or replaced videdwith a catch or notch ll, into which the end of the set screw 1 maybe received. The purpose ot this would be to holdthe spike more seecurely, if necessary, in the. opening 8 of. the base 1 and pulling it out.

8. The spike, Figure 3, may also be provided at the top with a sharp point or prong l2 which may be easily worked into the end of the wooden handle 5. This point I! would help toprevent any lateral sway of the spike inside of the base in case the spike does not fit snugly enough inside the opening 9 or the base 8. Otherwise, the point [2 would not appear to be necessary.

The wooden handle 5 is rounded at the top to prevent injury to the hand of the user. It is otherwise cylindrical and of any length to suit the user, say, usually about 20 to 28 inches long.

The operation of my invention is as follows:

Th handle of the paper picker being held by the hand of the user, with spike directed downwardly at a piece of paper on the ground, 'a thrust is made downwardly until the spike has pierced the paper, causing same to adhere to the spike. The user then proceeds to the next piece of. paper or other trash that is to be picked up, and repeats the same activity as before. H continues this Way until he has-an accumulation of papers on the spike sufficient to need removing from same. The paper picker is then lifted to such position and in such manner as will enable the user to draw the spike across the edge of the top of a-waste-basket, garbage can, or other receptacle which may, be carried-by-the user or by one ortwo assistants. Papers are thus deposited into the receptacle withoutthe necessity be sharpened, and if it becomes broken. sumciently to need replacement, it can be readily removed from-the holder .by loosening the set screw Another similar spike is then easily inserted in its place. a fewturns-back and forth-with the hand until the-point l2 penetrates its lengthinto the .wooden handle, leaving it with.the.notch ll facing the end ofthe set screw I. which is then tightened until it presses thespike-firmly, holding itsecurelyin opening 8 of'base-ll of theholder.

The metal parts while neatand attractive can,

nevertheless, be ;manufactured cheaply enough.

'ofthese old-brooms, as good as ever, may be sawed off in such lengths as to suit the user of the paper picker, and used as handles for the same; Such pieces of old broom handles can then be repainted if desired, and varnished, keeping the paper-picker attractive.

Give the spike- .ever, when the broom is worn out. Such handles, if desired, could be repainted in attractive colors and varnished, making them attractive to school children, who, it is thought, would delight to handle and :gse them in cleaning up papers, etc. from school grounds.

It is recommended that the spike be made in sizes such as that of ice-picks; 5 /2 to 6% inches long, diameter' accordingly, strong, sharp, and

.sufllciently tapering to penetrate the ground eas I do not limit my invention to the exact details and construction herein disclosed, as changes may be madetherein without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

What is claimed is:

l. A paper picker or the like comprising a spike holder having aligned communicating handle and spike sockets opening respectively at opposite ends of the holder, a handle having an end received in the handle socket, and a spike having a tang end fitting in the spike socket, and a'connecting prong between the spike and handle.

2. A paper picker or the like comprising a spike holder having aligned communicating handle and spike sockets opening respectivelyat opposite ends of the holder, a wooden handle having an end received in the handle socket, a metal spike having a tang end fitting in the spike socket, and a connecting prong on the inner end of the spike. embedded in the wood of the inner end of the handle;

- 3. A paper picker or the like comprising a spike holder having aligned communicating handlev and spike sockets opening respectively at opposite ends of the holder, a wooden handle having an end received in the handle socket, a metal spike havinga tang end fitting'in the spike socket, the inner ends of the handle and spike abutting through the communicating sockets, and a cone prong projecting from the inner end of the spike and embedded in the Wood of the inner end of the handle, the base of the cone prong being narrower than the inner end of the spike to provide-a shoulder about the prong'base for abutting against the inner end of the handle.

MALCOLM GILBERT DONALDSON; 

